U.S. patent application number 13/672163 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for method of identifying prebiotics and compositions containing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. The applicant listed for this patent is The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Duane Larry CHARBONNEAU, Brian Wilson HOWARD, Anthony Charles LANZALACO.
Application Number | 20130115610 13/672163 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47226454 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130115610 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LANZALACO; Anthony Charles ;
et al. |
May 9, 2013 |
METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PREBIOTICS AND COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THE
SAME
Abstract
A method for identifying test agents that exhibit prebiotic
activity on human skin commensal microorganisms and compositions
that include such agents. The method includes providing a test
culture of a test agent, a human skin commensal microorganism and a
minimal carbon medium. The method provides a time efficient and
cost effective way to predict in vivo prebiotic activity of a test
agent on skin commensal microorganisms.
Inventors: |
LANZALACO; Anthony Charles;
(Fairfleld, OH) ; CHARBONNEAU; Duane Larry;
(Mason, OH) ; HOWARD; Brian Wilson; (Mason,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Procter & Gamble Company; |
Cincinnati |
OH |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
The Procter & Gamble
Company
Cincinnati
OH
|
Family ID: |
47226454 |
Appl. No.: |
13/672163 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61556892 |
Nov 8, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
435/6.12 ;
435/29; 435/7.92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 2500/00 20130101;
C12Q 1/025 20130101; A61Q 19/00 20130101; G01N 33/56911 20130101;
A61K 8/99 20130101; A61K 2800/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/6.12 ;
435/29; 435/7.92 |
International
Class: |
C12Q 1/02 20060101
C12Q001/02 |
Claims
1. A method of identifying a test agent as a prebiotic agent, the
method comprising: providing a first culture comprising the test
agent, a quantity of a human skin commensal microorganism, and a
minimal carbon media; determining a metabolite level or a
replication level of the human skin commensal microorganism of the
first culture; and comparing the metabolite level or replication
level of the first culture to a control value; and identifying the
test agent as a prebiotic agent when the replication level or the
metabolic level is greater than the control value.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first culture
comprises combining the test agent, the human skin commensal
microorganism, and the minimal carbon media in a vessel.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimal carbon media has a
carbon content of less than about 0.1% by weight, based on the
weight of the media.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimal carbon media
comprises NaCl, (NH.sub.4).sub.2HPO.sub.4, K.sub.2HPO.sub.4, and
MgSO.sub.4.7H2O.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimal carbon media includes
a supplement selected from the group consisting of iron, biotin,
nicotinic acid, D-pantothenic acid, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine
dihydrochloride, thiamine hydrochloride, glucose, galactose,
mannose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose and combinations
thereof.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimal carbon media is free
of valine and arginine.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism exhibits less
than a 0.2 log increase in the number of CFUs after 24 hours in the
minimal carbon media.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control value is
obtained by determining the metabolite level or replication level
of a second culture which is free of the test agent.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the metabolite level of the first
culture is determined by measuring ATP level in the first culture
with an ATP assay.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the replication level is
determined by a method selected from the group consisting of:
optical density measurement, DNA measurement by PCR, plate count,
limiting dilution analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,
direct microscopic count, and labeling the microorganism with a
light-emitting or colored compound and measuring the luminescence
or color.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the test agent comprises a
botanical.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the test agent comprises a
microbial lysate.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the human skin commensal
microorganism is a species selected from the group consisting of
Staphylococcus genus, Corynebacterium genus, and Propionibacterium
genus.
14. A method of making a cosmetic composition, comprising:
identifying a prebiotic agent according to the method of claim 1
and incorporating the prebiotic agent into the cosmetic
composition.
15. A method of identifying a test agent as a broad spectrum
prebiotic agent, comprising: providing a first culture comprising
the test agent, a quantity of a first human skin commensal
microorganism, and a minimal carbon media; providing a second
culture comprising the test agent, a quantity of a second human
skin commensal microorganism that is different from the first human
skin commensal microorganism, and the minimal carbon media;
determining a metabolite level or a replication level of the first
and second cultures; comparing the metabolite level or the
replication level of the first culture to a first control value;
comparing the metabolite level or the replication level of the
second culture to a second control value; and identifying the test
agent as a broad spectrum prebiotic agent if the metabolite level
or the replication level of the first culture is greater than the
first control value and the metabolite level or the replication
level of the second culture is greater than the second control
value.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second human skin
commensal microorganisms are a species selected from the group
consisting of Staphylococcus genus, Corynebacterium genus, and
Propionibacterium genus.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising a third culture that
includes the test agent, a quantity of a third human skin commensal
microorganism that is different from the first and second human
skin commensal microorganisms, and the minimal carbon media;
determining a metabolite level or a replication level of the third
culture; comparing the metabolite level or the replication level of
the third culture to a third control value; and identifying the
test agent as a broad spectrum prebiotic agent if the metabolite
level or the replication level of the first, second and third
cultures is greater than their corresponding control values.
18. A method of identifying a test agent as a selective prebiotic,
comprising: providing a first culture comprising a test agent, a
quantity of a first human skin commensal microorganism, and a
minimal carbon media; providing a second culture comprising a test
agent, a quantity of a second human skin commensal microorganism
that is different from the first human skin commensal
microorganism, and the minimal carbon media; determining a
metabolite level or a replication level of the first and second
cultures; comparing the metabolite level or the replication level
of the first culture to a first control value; comparing the
metabolite level or the replication level of the second culture to
a second control value; and identifying the test agent as a
selective prebiotic agent when the metabolite level or the
replication level in one of the first and second cultures is
greater than its corresponding control value and the metabolite
level or the replication level of the other of the first and second
cultures is less than its corresponding control value
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second human skin
commensal microorganisms are a species selected from the group
consisting of Staphylococcus genus, Corynebacterium genus, and
Propionibacterium genus.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising a third culture that
includes the test agent, a quantity of a third human skin commensal
microorganism that is different from the first and second human
skin commensal microorganisms, and the minimal carbon media;
determining a metabolite level or a replication level of the third
culture; comparing the metabolite level or the replication level of
the third culture to a third control value; and identifying the
test agent as a selective prebiotic agent when the metabolite level
or the replication level of at least one of the first, second and
third cultures is greater than its corresponding control value and
the metabolite level or the replication level of at least one of
the first, second and third cultures is less than its corresponding
control value.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/556,892, filed Nov. 8, 2011.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a method of identifying
test agents that display a prebiotic effect on human skin commensal
microorganisms and compositions that contain the prebiotic agent.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of
identifying prebiotic agents using a minimal carbon media. Another
aspect relates to a method of identifying broad spectrum prebiotic
agents. Still another aspect relates to a high-throughput, tiered
assay for identifying prebiotic test agents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Human skin is colonized by a diverse array of
microorganisms. Colonization generally begins shortly after birth
when an infant is exposed to the maternal microflora and other
environmental events that typically lead to the colonization of a
previously gnotobiotic human fetus. From the time of initial
colonization, human skin remains in a state of flux where the
composition of its resident microflora changes over time in
response to factors intrinsic and extrinsic to the host.
[0004] In general, the microorganisms that colonize human skin may
be grouped into three distinct categories: (1) those that are
sporadic residents and typically do not proliferate on human skin,
(2) those that may proliferate and remain on the skin for
relatively short periods of time, and (3) those that may
permanently colonize the skin. The members of these three groups
may differ with respect to their preferred location on the skin
and/or body of a person. Although human skin may be generalized as
a cool, acidic, desiccate environment, a variety of
microenvironments may be found in various locations on the surface
of the skin. For example, the groin, axillary vault, and toe web
typically exhibit higher temperature and humidity than other
regions of the skin and/or body, which may promote the growth of
microorganisms suited for such a microenvironment (e.g.
Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacteria). In another example, the
sebaceous glands typically present on the face, chest, and back of
a human may promote the growth of lipophilic microorganisms like
Propionibacterium. Changes in diet; occupation; clothing choice; or
the use of antibiotics, antibacterial soaps, moisturizers,
cosmetics, hand sanitizers, and/or other anti-microbial skin
products are also known to contribute to the variation observed in
the type and/or amount of human skin microflora. Environmental
factors like temperature, humidity, and exposure to ultra violet
radiation are also known to cause changes in the type and/or amount
of human skin microflora. Further, intrinsic host factors such as
the host's genome, age, sex, and stage of sexual maturity may
influence the state of the human skin microflora.
[0005] At least some members of the human skin microbiome provide
benefits to their human host, for example, by stimulating the human
immune system and/or producing anti-microbial substances. For
example, Staphylococcus epidermidis has been shown to produce
anti-microbial peptides that inhibit S. aureus biofilm formation.
On the other hand, perturbations which disrupt the delicate balance
of the skin microflora may result in undesirable consequences to
the host and/or microflora. For example, increased production of
free fatty acid byproducts associated with the proliferation of
Propionibacterium acnes may promote the development of acne.
Despite the diversity and/or fluctuations observed in the human
microbiome among different individuals, it is believed that some
members of the human microbiome may be common among different
humans. In this regard, it has been shown that certain organisms
typically constitute a significant portion of the human skin
microbiome.
[0006] To combat any undesirable health and/or cosmetic
consequences imposed on the host by the growth and/or activity of
certain members of the skin microbiome, a variety of bactericidal
agents (e.g., antibiotics) are known in the art. While the use of
bactericidal agents may be clinically effective in reducing the
symptoms associated with the growth of harmful microorganisms on
human skin, there are drawbacks. For example, bactericidal agents
such as topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, and azelaic acid
tend to affect both the beneficial and undesirable skin microflora
indiscriminately. The death or behavioral change in the beneficial
skin microflora in turn may lead to further undesirable health
and/or cosmetic effects on the host, such as skin irritation.
Moreover, certain bactericidal agents, in particular topical
antibiotics, may promote antibiotic-resistant microbiota, sometimes
referred to as "super bugs."
[0007] A more advantageous strategy to combat any undesirable
health and/or cosmetic consequence brought about by perturbations
that disrupt the balance of the skin microbiota may be to identify
agents that exhibit prebiotic activity for those members of the
skin microbiome that produce a benefit to the host. Compositions
containing such prebiotic agents could then be formulated by
combining the prebiotic agent with an acceptable dermatological
carrier and used topically. For example, moisturizers, hand and/or
body soaps, cosmetics, hand sanitizers, body lotions, and/or other
skin products suitable for human use may be formulated to include
prebiotic agents. Skin care compositions that include a prebiotic
agent may provide a more desirable alternative to conventional
bactericidal agents, for example, by reducing the likelihood of
skin irritation.
[0008] Currently, only a limited number of agents have been
identified as exhibiting prebiotic activity on certain members of
the human skin microbiome. There is no generally accepted method
known in the art for effectively predicting which of the myriad of
potential prebiotic agents will exhibit suitable prebiotic activity
on skin microflora and be suitable for incorporation into topical
skin care compositions. As a result, conventional methods for
screening prebiotic agents may employ a difficult, time-consuming,
and laborious battery of assays to identify a desired prebiotic
agent. Additionally, the rich media used in conventional assays do
not provide the desired sensitivity when attempting to detect
prebiotic activity related to a particular test agent. In other
words, a suitable prebiotic test agent may be overlooked due to the
lack of sensitivity of conventional assays.
[0009] Those skilled in the art have long sought a suitable
high-throughput screening method for identifying agents exhibiting
prebiotic activity on members of the human skin microbiome, yet
have been unsuccessful in developing such a method due to the
variety of problems associated with its development. For example,
the variability of the skin microbiota among individuals; expense
of the assay; test volumes required for the assays; media choice;
choice of cell types; detection sensitivity; difficulty in
obtaining consistent data for small volumes of cultures; assay
format; and the time required to conduct the assay individually and
collectively contribute to the difficulty associated with the
development of an industry-suitable, prebiotic high-throughput
assay. Even identifying a suitable medium for such an assay is a
laborious task due to the unique nutritional and environmental
requirements of certain members of the human skin microbiome. In
addition, there is desire to develop a tiered assaying methodology
incorporating a high thru-put assay in combination with a low
thru-put assay that is perhaps directionally more predicative for
the commercial, large-scale screening of potential prebiotic
compounds for the skin prior to placement of an expensive,
time-consuming in vivo test. Accordingly, there is a need for a
method of screening test agents that exhibit prebiotic activity on
one or more of the skin commensal microorganisms of different
individuals, and which uses a single, relatively simple media that
provides suitable sensitivity. There is also a need for a
high-throughput screening assay that identifies test agents
exhibiting prebiotic activity on skin commensal microorganisms and
that is relatively fast, inexpensive, and reliable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In order to provide a solution to one or more of the
problems above, disclosed herein is a method of identifying a test
agent as a prebiotic. The method comprises providing a first
culture comprising a test agent, a quantity of at least one human
skin commensal microorganism and a minimal carbon media. The method
also comprises determining the metabolite level or replication
level of the human skin commensal microorganism of the first
culture. The method further comprises identifying the test agent as
a prebiotic when the test agent increases the replication level or
the metabolite level of the at least one human skin commensal
microorganism as compared to a control.
[0011] Also disclosed is a method of identifying a test agent as a
broad spectrum prebiotic. The method comprises providing at least
two cultures, each culture comprising a test agent, a quantity of a
human skin microorganism and a minimal carbon media. The method
also comprises determining a metabolite level or a replication
level of the human skin commensal microorganism of each culture.
The method further comprises identifying the test agent as a broad
spectrum prebiotic when the test agent increases the replication
level or the metabolite level of the human skin commensal
microorganisms of both cultures as compared to a control.
[0012] Also disclosed is a method of identifying a test agent as a
selective prebiotic. The method comprises providing at least two
cultures, each culture comprising a test agent, a quantity of a
human skin microorganism and a minimal carbon media. The method
also comprises determining a metabolite level or a replication
level of the human skin commensal microorganism of each culture.
The method further comprises identifying the test agent as a
selective prebiotic when the test agent increases the replication
level or the metabolite level of one of the cultures but not the
other as compared to a control.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary microbiome population
distribution.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates the ATP response to various glucose
levels for S. epidermidis.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates the ATP response to various glucose
levels for C. jeikeium.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates the ATP response to various glucose
levels for P. acnes.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a change in the amount of ATP induced by
a test agent on S. epidermidis.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a change in colonies induced by a test
agent on S. epidermidis.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a change in the amount of ATP induced by
a test agent on C. jeikeium.
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates a change in colonies induced by a test
agent on C. jeikeium.
[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates a change in the amount of ATP induced by
a test agent on P. acnes.
[0022] FIG. 10 illustrates a change in colonies induced by a test
agent on P. acnes.
[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates a comparison between an ATP assay and a
variety of conventional assays.
[0024] FIG. 12 illustrates the effect of OLIVEM on P. acnes.
[0025] FIG. 13 illustrates the effect of OLIVEM on S.
epidermidis.
[0026] FIG. 14 illustrates the effect of OLIVEM on C. jeikeium.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Definitions
[0027] "ATP assay" means measuring the adenosine triphosphate
("ATP") level of a test sample to obtain a test value.
[0028] "Botanical" means a substance, extract or derivative of a
plant.
[0029] "Cosmetic composition" means a composition suitable for
topical application on mammalian skin and/or other keratinous
tissue such as hair and nails. Topical means the surface of the
skin or other keratinous tissue. Cosmetic composition includes any
color cosmetic, nail, or skin care product. "Skin care" means
regulating and/or improving skin condition. Nonlimiting examples of
skin care include improving skin appearance and/or feel by
providing a smoother, more even appearance and/or feel; reducing
the oily and/or shiny appearance of skin. Non-limiting examples of
cosmetic compositions include products that leave color on the
face, such as foundation, mascara, concealers, eye liners, brow
colors, eye shadows, blushers, lip sticks, lip balms, face powders,
solid emulsion compact, and the like. "Skin care products" include,
but are not limited to, skin creams, moisturizers, lotions, and
body washes.
[0030] "Dermatologically acceptable carrier" means a carrier that
is suitable for topical application to the keratinous tissue, has
good aesthetic properties, is compatible with a prebiotic
discovered by practicing the present invention and potentially
other components, and will not cause any undesirable safety or
toxicity concerns. The dermatologically acceptable carrier may be
in a wide variety of forms such as, for example, simple solutions
(water-based or oil-based), solid forms (e.g. gels or sticks) and
emulsions.
[0031] "Metabolism" means any chemical reaction occurring inside a
microorganism. Metabolism includes anabolism, the synthesis of the
biological molecules (e.g. protein synthesis and DNA replication)
and catabolism, the breakdown of biological molecules.
[0032] "Increase" means increases above basal levels, or as
compared to a control.
[0033] "Microbial lysate" means the mixture of cellular components
and reagents that result from the lysis of a microorganism. "Lysis"
involves the action of rupturing the cell wall and/or the cell
membrane of a cell by a treatment (e.g. chemical, biological,
mechanical, or thermal treatment), resulting in the release of some
or all of the cell's biological constituents.
[0034] "Microorganism" means bacteria, fungi, algae.
[0035] "Minimal carbon media" ("MCM") means a mixture of substances
capable of supporting the survival or limited growth of
microorganisms (i.e., less than a 0.2 log increase in colony
forming units ("CFU") in a 24 hour period) in which carbon is a
limiting resource. In certain embodiments, the MCM may be in the
form of a liquid or a gel. Because the minimum carbon requirements
may vary between different microorganisms, the amount of carbon
present in the MCM may also vary. In some embodiments, for example,
the MCM may be completely free of carbon. In some embodiments, the
MCM may be substantially free of carbon (i.e., less than 0.001% by
weight based on the weight of the medium). In some embodiments, the
MCM may contain from 0.001% to 0.1% of carbon. The amount of carbon
is determined as the mole fraction or molecular weight % of carbon
present. For example, glucose is 40% carbon by weight.
[0036] "PCR" means polymerase chain reaction and includes real-time
PCR, quantitative PCR ("QPCR"), semi-quantitative PCR, and
combinations thereof.
[0037] "Prebiotic" means any substance or combination of substances
that may be utilized as a nutrient by a microorganism, may induce
the growth and/or activity of a microorganism, may induce the
replication of a microorganism, may be utilized as an energy source
by the microorganism, and/or may be utilized by the microorganism
for the production of biomolecules (i.e. RNA, DNA, and proteins).
Non-limiting examples of prebiotics include mucopolysaccharides,
oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins, nutrient
precursors, harvested metabolic products of biological organisms,
microbial lysates, lipids, and proteins.
[0038] "Replication" means the division of a microorganism into
daughter cells (e.g. by mitosis or binary fission).
[0039] "Selective prebiotic" means a test agent or combination of
test agents that increase(s) the metabolism and/or replication of a
target species of skin commensal microorganisms, but not of other,
non-target species.
[0040] "Skin" means the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis (i.e.,
subcutis), and also includes the mucosa and skin adenexa,
particularly hair follicles, hair roots, hair bulbs, the ventral
epithelial layer of the nail bed (lectulus) as well as sebaceous
glands and perspiratory glands (eccrine and apocrine).
[0041] "Skin commensal microorganisms" means both prokaryotes and
eukaryotes that may colonize (i.e., live and multiply on human
skin) or temporarily inhabit human skin in vitro, ex vivo and/or in
vivo. Exemplary skin commensal microorganisms include, but are not
limited to, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria,
Gammaproteobacteria, Propionibacteria, Corynebacteria,
Actinobacteria, Clostridiales, Lactobacillales, Staphylococcus,
Bacillus, Micrococcus, Streptococcus, Bacteroidales,
Flavobacteriales, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Malassezia, Maydida,
Debaroyomyces, and Cryptococcus.
[0042] "Test agent" means any synthetic or naturally-occurring
element or chemical compound or any recombinantly-produced molecule
including, for example, molecules and macromolecules contained or
produced in combinatorial libraries or molecules and macromolecules
for which the structures were designed by computer or three
dimensional analysis. Test agents useful herein also include crude
or purified extracts of organic sources (e.g. animal extracts,
botanical extracts, and microbial lysates). The test agents herein
may be combined with an inert buffer (e.g., saline) or a solvent.
Non-limiting examples of suitable solvents include
dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), alcohols such as methanol and ethanol,
and aqueous solutions such as water and culture medium.
[0043] The articles "a" and "an" are understood to mean one or more
of what is being claimed and/or described.
[0044] It is to be appreciated that while particular examples
recited herein may refer to identifying prebiotics for the skin
commensal microorganisms of a human, the methods herein are not
limited to such embodiments. The present method may, in fact, be
practiced to great advantage in any situation where an assay for
identifying a prebiotic is required. It is believed that the
detailed description contained herein will allow one skilled in the
art to readily adapt the novel method herein to other applications.
Additionally, while particular examples may describe the method or
portions thereof as being performed manually, one skilled in the
art would appreciate that the method or the exemplified portions
thereof may be automated.
Selection of Skin Commensal Microorganisms.
[0045] The surface of mammalian skin typically includes a wide
variety of microorganisms, which may vary from species to species,
individual to individual, and even from location to location on an
individual. Collectively, the microorganisms on the skin of a
person form a microbiome. A healthy skin microbiome will generally
consist of a balanced collection of skin commensal microorganisms.
The skin microbiome of a person may include a variety of resident
microorganisms that help promote the health and/or appearance of
the host's skin. But in some instances, certain undesirable
microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria, yeasts and molds may
attempt to colonize the skin, which can upset the balance of a
healthy microbiome. Fortunately, the resident microorganisms
typically present in the skin microbiome have evolved a variety of
active and passive mechanisms to inhibit and/or prevent
colonization of the skin by undesirable microorganisms. Examples of
such passive methods include competing for niches that can be
occupied by undesirable microorganisms and consuming nutrients
essential for the growth and proliferation of undesirable
microorganisms. In terms of active mechanisms, desirable
microorganisms may produce metabolites that inhibit the
proliferation of undesirable microorganisms, or even kill them
outright. In addition to inhibition of undesirable microorganisms,
there is a growing body of evidence that certain resident
microflora impact innate immunity. For example, it has been
demonstrated that certain members of the skin microbiome via their
metabolism of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, produce acid that
aids in maintaining the so-called "acid mantel" of the skin.
[0046] One approach to maintaining a microbiome in a healthy,
balanced state and/or returning a microbiome to a healthy, balanced
state may be to provide certain desirable microorganisms with
sufficient nutrients to thrive, and thereby outcompete and/or kill
the undesirable bacteria. For example, it may be desirable to
include one or more prebiotic agents in the compositions used by a
person in their daily skin care regimen. However, this is not an
easy task because the variability in the makeup of the
microorganisms from person to person may render a particular agent
suitable as an effective prebiotic for the skin commensal
microorganism of one person but not another. Notwithstanding the
long-held belief that there is wide variability in the skin
commensal microorganisms of different individuals, it has been
found that some commonalities do exist.
[0047] Since cosmetic skin care compositions are commonly applied
to the face, hands and/or forearms of a person, it can be desirable
to select human skin commensal microorganisms for an in vitro
screening methodology that are sufficiently present on the face,
hands and/or forearms of a person to enable in vivo, ex vivo and/or
in vitro analysis and comparison, and/or which may positively
affect the skin microbiome and/or skin health in the presence of a
prebiotic. The microbiome of both the face and forearm of humans
has been studied, and it has been determined that Corynebacterium
jeikeium ("C. jeikeium"), Staphylococcus epidermidis ("S.
epidermidis"), and Propionibacterium acnes ("P. acnes") to varying
extents are present in measurable quantities on both the face and
forearm such that these microorganisms may be suitable candidates,
in certain embodiments, for use in an in vitro screening
method.
[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates the similar yet diverse microbiome
populations that may be present on the face and forearm of a
person. The microorganisms illustrated in FIG. 1 were isolated by
sampling the skin with a sterile swab wetted with phosphate
buffered saline ("PBS"). The QPCR analysis illustrated in FIG. 1
utilized DNA isolated from the swab samples. As shown in FIG. 1,
Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and P. acnes are all present on the
face and forearm of the individuals sampled. Thus, the inclusion of
P. acnes, Staphylococcus and S. epidermidis in a prebiotic
screening method may be particularly useful for predicting the
in-vivo effect of a potential prebiotic agent. FIG. 1 also
illustrates that P. acnes may be more commonly found on the face
than the forearm, while the opposite appears to be true for
Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus. Thus, potential prebiotics
successfully identified by an in-vitro screening method against P.
acnes may potentially have a robust impact on skin health and/or
the skin microbiome due to their proportionate contribution to the
makeup of the forearm and face microbiomes. On the other hand,
potential prebiotics successfully identified by an in-vitro
screening method against Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus may be
used to provide a targeted skin health benefit specific to the
forearms and/or other bodily regions that have a similar microbiome
make up.
[0049] With regard to skin commensal microorganisms which may
positively affect the skin microbiome and/or skin health, it is
believed that C. jeikeium, S. epidermidis, and P. acnes provide a
skin health and/or desirable microbiome benefit when provided with
a compound having prebiotic potential. In particular, it has been
demonstrated that C. jeikeium produces siderophores that sequester
iron. C. jeikeium also employs specialized mechanisms for acquiring
manganese, both of which are essential for the growth of certain
undesirable microorganisms.
[0050] S. epidermidis is believed to play an active role in
stimulating the immune system of the skin, for example, by
influencing the innate immune response of keratinocytes through
Toll-like receptor ("TLR") signaling. Additionally, S. epidermidis
is believed to occupy receptors on a host cell that are also
recognized by more virulent microorganisms such as Staphylococcus
aureus. Further, S. epidermidis produces lanthionine-containing
antibacterial peptides, sometimes referred to as bacteriocins,
which are known to exhibit antibacterial properties toward certain
species of harmful bacteria. Examples of such peptides include:
epidermin, epilancin K7, epilancin 15.times. Pep5, and
staphylococcin 1580. Other peptides produced by S. epidermidis
counteract intra- and interspecies competitors. The peptides are
effective against Streptococcus aureus, group A streptococcus, and
Streptococcus pyogenes.
[0051] P. acnes is a commensal, non-sporulating bacilliform
(rod-shaped), gram-positive bacterium found in a variety of
locations on the human body including the skin, mouth, urinary
tract and areas of the large intestine. P. acnes can consume skin
oil and produce byproducts such as short-chain fatty acids and
propionic acid, which are known to help maintain a healthy skin
barrier. Propionibacteria such as P. acnes also produce
bacteriocins and bacteriocin-like compounds (e.g., propionicin
PlG-1, jenseniin G, propionicins SM1, SM2 T1, and acnecin), which
are inhibitory toward undesirable lactic acid-producing bacteria,
gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds.
[0052] Considering the beneficial functions believed to be provided
by C. jeikeium, S. epidermidis, and P. acnes and the dominant
presence they appear to have on both the forearms and face of a
person, it would be desirable to identify agents that exhibit
suitable in vivo prebiotic activity for one, two, or even all of
these skin commensal microorganisms. While some screening methods
described herein may beneficially utilize one or more of C.
jeikeium, S. epidermidis, and P. acnes, the screening methods
described herein may also be advantageously used with other skin
commensal microorganisms.
Minimal Carbon Media.
[0053] It is well known that some consumers desire topical products
that kill microorganisms on the skin. This desire has lead to a
variety of antimicrobial products (e.g., antibacterial soaps,
wipes, hard surface cleaners, and the like). When screening a test
agent for its antimicrobial properties on a particular
microorganism, conventional methods typically employ rich growth
media such as, for example, Luria Bertani media, which contains an
abundance of the food source typically consumed by the
microorganism of interest. It is believed, without being limited by
theory, that microorganisms in a rich growth media will thrive, and
by testing "well fed" microorganisms the antibiotic activity of a
test agent on the microorganism can more easily be observed and/or
measured. But because the nutritional requirements of different
microorganisms are known to vary, conventional assays may need to
use several different rich growth media or media components when
screening test agents on different species of microorganism.
Preparing several rich growth media for testing may be undesirably
costly in terms of time and resources. Perhaps more importantly,
the use of microorganisms suspended in a rich growth medium, while
suitable for screening test agents for antibiotic activity, may not
provide sufficient sensitivity for identifying prebiotic agents. In
particular, the rich growth media typically used in conventional
assays results in a microorganism that is well fed, and therefore
the introduction of a suitable prebiotic agent may induce only a
small change or no change at all in a measurable biological
indicator such as metabolite level or replication level. The small
change or lack of change in the biological indicator may not
provide the necessary signal or dynamic range needed to determine
prebiotic activity when measured. Thus, when screening test agents
for prebiotic activity, it would be desirable to use a single,
relatively simple medium that allows a metabolic change induced by
the test agent to be easily detectable by the assay used to measure
such change.
[0054] Contrary to conventional methods, it has been found that
minimal carbon media, which can be relatively simple media, are
particularly suitable for screening prebiotic agents. In
particular, it has been discovered that C. jeikeium, S.
epidermidis, and P. acnes are each capable of surviving in an MCM
for up to 72 hours or more (e.g., 96 or 120 hours) while providing
sufficient dynamic range to enable effective determination of the
prebiotic potential of a test agent. It is believed, without being
limited by theory, that the first sign of prebiotic activity on a
microorganism is metabolic stimulation such as, for example, an
increase in the production of ATP. Thus, measuring ATP levels may
be useful for detecting the earliest signs of prebiotic activity on
a microorganism, as long as the assay is sensitive enough to detect
the changes in ATP in the microorganism.
[0055] FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate a comparison between varying amounts
of glucose (i.e., a carbon source) and the dynamic range of
detection relative to a water control for C. jeikeium, S.
epidermidis, and P. acnes in an ATP assay. The change in ATP level
versus the water control in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown at 24 hours and
48 hours. The change in ATP level versus the water control in FIG.
4 is shown at 24 hours, 48 hours and 120 hours. As illustrated in
FIG. 2, S. epidermidis demonstrates a dramatic increase in ATP
response at or above 0.1% glucose. Thus, the ability to detect a
prebiotic response from a control (i.e., the "dynamic range") can
be diminished when using test media that are relatively rich in
carbon, which in not uncommon for conventional assays. FIGS. 3 and
4 illustrate a similar response for C. jeikeium and P. acnes,
respectively, although the thresholds are lower. Advantageously,
the data illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 suggest that S. epidermidis,
C. jeikeium, and P. acnes have minimal carbon thresholds (e.g.,
<0.1%, <0.01%, and <0.01% glucose, respectively) that are
compatible with utilizing a minimal carbon media in conjunction
with an in vitro screening method.
[0056] It is to be appreciated that while glucose was used to
confirm that C. jeikeium, S. epidermidis, and P. acnes have minimal
carbon thresholds and dynamic ranges suitable for use in an in
vitro screening method, minimal carbon media suitable for use with
the screening methods described herein need not incorporate glucose
nor are the thresholds (e.g., <0.01% and <0.1%) of glucose a
defining limit for the amount of carbon present in a minimal carbon
media.
[0057] In addition to providing a single, simple medium for
screening prebiotic agents, an MCM may also provide excellent
sensitivity. It is believed, without being limited by theory, that
by suspending microorganisms in a nutrient poor environment such as
an MCM the microorganisms become physically stressed, and the
metabolite levels and/or replication levels of the microorganism
will not increase over time. In fact, because of the scarcity of a
food source in the MCM, the metabolite levels and/or replication
levels of the microorganism will eventually decline (e.g., after
more than 24 or 48 hours), even though one or both indicators may
initially appear relatively stable (i.e., unchanging). Because the
metabolite and/or replication levels of the microorganism in the
MCM are either decreasing or unchanged over time, any relative
increase in one or both indicators resulting from the introduction
of a prebiotic agent may be easier to detect, as compared to
microorganisms suspended in a nutrient rich environment. It is to
be appreciated that a relative increase in an indicator level does
not necessarily require an actual increase in the indicator level,
but may instead be a slower rate of decline as compared to the
indicator level in the MCM. A suitable MCM for use with the novel
method herein should permit at least some of the microorganisms in
the MCM to survive for at least 48 hours or more, but not thrive.
For example, the microorganisms should exhibit less than a 0.2 log
increase in the number of CFUs in a 24-hour period of time, but
still be present in an amount sufficient to measure the metabolite
level and/or replication level at 24 and 48 hours.
[0058] In certain embodiments, an MCM may be prepared as a solution
of NaCl, NH.sub.4HPO.sub.4, K.sub.2HPO.sub.4, MgSO.sub.4.7H2O, and
distilled water. For example, the MCM may be in the form of a
solution that includes from 1 to 100 g of NaCl; from 0.1 to 2.0 g
of NH.sub.4HPO.sub.4; from 0.001 to 1.0 g K.sub.2HPO.sub.4; from
0.001-1 g MgSO.sub.4.7H2O; and a sufficient amount of distilled
water. In a particularly suitable example, the MCM may be a
solution formed from 5.0 g NaCl; 1.0 g NH.sub.4HPO, 1.0 g
K.sub.2HPO.sub.4, 0.1 g MgSO.sub.4.7H2O, and 500 ml distilled
water. The MCM may be optionally supplemented with vitamins, amino
acids, iron, biotin, nicotinic acid, D-pantothenic acid, pyridoxal,
pyridoxamine dihydrochloride, thiamine hydrochloride, glucose,
galactose, mannose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, and/or
combinations of these. In certain embodiments, it may be
particularly desirable to prepare the minimal carbon media such
that it is free of valine and arginine, which are amino acids
essential for growth and which could provide a carbon source (i.e.,
food) for the microorganism. Prior to using the MCM in testing, the
MCM may be sterilized (i.e., free of microorganisms) to avoid
adding a source of carbon to the media. The MCM may be sterilized
by any suitable method known in the art. For example, the MCM may
be passed through a 0.2 .mu.m filter. In certain embodiments, the
MCM may be heated to a temperature of 100-120.degree. C.,
optionally in an autoclave, prior to passing the MCM through the
filter. The pH of the MCM should be within a suitable range (e.g.,
from 6.6 to 7.4, from 6.8 to 7.2, or even 7.0) as this may affect
the metabolism and/or doubling time of the microorganisms.
[0059] The pH of the MCM may be adjusted by adding HCl or NaOH to
lower or raise the pH, respectively, during preparation of the
MCM.
[0060] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 10 and Example 1, discussed in more
detail below, dynamic range comparisons of minimal carbon media to
rich carbon media for C. jeikeium, S. epidermidis, and P. acnes for
a test compound (e.g., beet pulp) are illustrated. For C. jeikeium,
S. epidermidis, and P. acnes, the beet pulp compound increased the
activity of the skin commensal microorganisms as measured by ATP
and plate count methods. The minimal carbon media provides a
significant dynamic range for C. jeikeium, S. epidermidis, and P.
acnes for screening for compounds having prebiotic potential versus
the rich carbon media. Differentiating among test compounds having
varying degrees of prebiotic potential (or in some instances no
prebiotic potential) would be much more challenging using a rich
carbon media.
[0061] It is to be appreciated that the minimal carbon media
disclosed herein are particularly suitable for use with a wide
variety of prebiotic screening methods, including certain methods
disclosed herein (e.g., ATP assay and plate count), but other, less
preferred media may also be used. Nonlimiting examples of other
suitable media may include a highly diluted rich growth medium
(e.g., from 10.times. to 1000.times., depending on the
microorganism), fermentation broth, or a PBS solution.
Preparation of an Assay Culture
[0062] In order to identify a test agent as a prebiotic, it must be
shown that the presence of the test agent promotes the survival
and/or growth of a microorganism of interest. In certain
embodiments, an output of the microorganism that results from
exposing the microorganism to the test agent may be measured to
determine whether the test agent promotes survival and/or growth.
For example, the output may be in the form of a measurable change
in the metabolite levels of the microorganism (e.g., ATP, NAD,
NADP, NADH, NADPH, cAMP, cGMP, and/or ADP) which are released upon
cell lysis. Such metabolic indicators may be measured with a
suitable, commercially available enzyme-based assay. Additionally
or alternatively, it may be desirable to measure the change in
number and/or concentration of the microorganism(s) (i.e.,
replication level) to determine whether a test agent is a
prebiotic.
[0063] In some embodiments, the microorganism(s) of interest for
use in the novel methods herein may be selected from one or more of
the three skin commensal microorganisms discussed above.
Additionally or alternatively, the microorganism(s) of interest may
be selected by a stochastic method or selected based on particular
reasoning. The selected microorganism(s) may be obtained by any
suitable manner known in the art. For example, the selected
microorganism(s) may be isolated from a natural environment (e.g.,
the skin of a person) or purchased from a suitable commercial
source such as the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in
Manassas, Va. It is not uncommon for the number or concentration of
microorganism(s) obtained by sampling or purchasing to be
unsuitable for testing needs (e.g., too low). Therefore, it may be
desirable to use a starter culture to adjust the number of
microorganisms to the desired amount or concentration. In certain
embodiments, the starter culture may be obtained by placing a
thawed amount of a previously frozen aliquot containing glycerol
and the selected microorganism into a Luria Bertani medium or other
rich growth medium. In certain embodiments, the starter culture may
be made by adding an agar stab of an agar plate containing the
selected microorganism(s) and/or a streak of a single colony from a
plate containing the selected microorganism(s) to a suitable rich
growth media. The selected microorganism(s) present in the starter
cultures may then be grown by incubating the starter culture at a
suitable temperature for 8 to 16 hours or longer. Suitable
temperatures may be from 32.degree. to 39.degree. C., 34 to
38.degree. C., or even 37.degree. C., depending on the
microorganism(s) selected. In some instances, the starter culture
may require anaerobic incubation in a controlled environment
suitable for the growth of the selected microorganism(s). When
incubating the starter culture, it may be desirable to minimize
evaporation of liquid from the starter culture, for example, by
controlling the humidity of the environment and/or covering the
starter culture vessel with a liquid impermeable material (e.g.,
lid or film material). It may also be desirable to control other
environmental factors such as the levels of carbon dioxide and
nitrogen.
[0064] The starter culture may be harvested within 24 hours after
inoculation with the selected microorganism(s). The timeframe for
the harvest of the starter culture should correspond to the
transition from the logarithmic growth phase of the starter culture
to the stationary growth phase, as is well known in the art. To
begin harvesting, the starter culture may be centrifuged at a speed
that is sufficient to pelletize the microorganism cells but still
maintain viability (e.g., between 5000 and 10,000.times.g for 15
minutes at 4.degree. C.). Upon centrifugation, the supernatant
should be completely denayted. The pellet of microorganism cells
may be washed with a saline solution to remove undesirable
contaminants left over from the complex media. The denayted and,
optionally, washed cells may be re-suspended in a medium of choice
(e.g., a minimal carbon medium) to provide a work culture with a
suitable amount and/or concentration of the selected
microorganism(s) for screening the test agent(s). In certain
embodiments, the work culture may be between a 1.times. and a
100.times. (e.g., 10.times.) dilution of the starter culture. The
concentration of cells in the starter and/or work culture may be
calculated by any means known to those in the art (e.g.,
correlating an optical density value obtained with a
spectrophotometer to a cell count).
[0065] After the selected microorganism(s) have been re-suspended
in the work culture, one or more samples (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10 or more, but typically less than 100) are removed from
the work culture and placed in a suitable reaction vessel. Reaction
vessels are known in the art and include, without limitation,
multi-well vessels, single-well vessels, one or more tubes,
conventional test plates (e.g. 12-well plate, 96-well plate,
384-well plate, 1536-well plate), and the like. The sample size may
be determined by the size of the reaction vessel and/or the
concentration of microorganisms. It is important to ensure that a
suitable amount of the selected microorganism is included in the
sample from the work culture. For example, 0.1 ml of a 10.times.
dilution work solution may be placed in each well of a suitable
96-well plate. In order to screen a test agent, the
microorganism(s) must be exposed to the test agent. Thus, the test
agent and the sample of the work culture are combined to form a
test sample. The test agent(s) may be added directly to the
reaction vessel before, after, or at the same time as the sample
from the work culture. Additionally or alternatively, the test
agent(s) may be combined with the work culture and/or one or more
elements thereof prior to being placed in the reaction vessel. The
ratio of the test agent(s) to the test sample may be any standard
dilution such as 1:10, with care taken to ensure that there is
sufficient room in the test vessel to add the microorganisms. It is
important to provide the appropriate ratio because if too much test
agent is provided, it may become toxic to the microorganism. On the
other hand, if too little test agent is provided the sensitivity of
the assay may be undesirably affected.
Assays to Identify a Test Agent as a Prebiotic
[0066] To determine if the test agent is a prebiotic or may have
prebiotic potential, one or more measurements are taken to
determine how the microorganism(s) react to a test agent. It may be
desirable to take such measurements at predetermined times (e.g.,
at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and/or 120 hours after providing the test
sample), time intervals of, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10 or more hours) and/or combinations of these. It is to be
appreciated that the foregoing examples of time and time intervals
are not particularly limiting and any suitable time or time
interval may be used, as desired.
[0067] In some embodiments, an ATP assay may be utilized in
conjunction with a minimal carbon medium and one or more skin
commensal microorganisms. It has been discovered that an ATP assay
is particularly well suited for use as high thru-put screening
method, either singly or as part of tiered screening methodology,
for compounds having prebiotic potential for one or more skin
commensal microorganisms. ATP levels can be measured very quickly
in a multi-well plate (e.g., less than 15 or 20 minutes), making it
very well suited for screening hundreds or thousands of compounds
for prebiotic potential very quickly. These compounds can then be
screened further with more time and/or resource intensive methods
(e.g., plate count) to refine the candidate pool of compounds
having prebiotic potential. ATP assays have traditionally been
correlated to plate count increases, meaning the inherent amount of
ATP measured per bacterial cell under a given culture condition is
relatively constant and therefore increases in cell number
correlate with increases in ATP. Thus, a common endpoint
historically assessed by ATP is correlating an increase in cell
count for a given increase in ATP. When screening for compounds or
materials having prebiotic potential herein, however, the primary
inquiry is not cell count but rather the amount of metabolic
activity that is present (which may or may not lead to an increase
in cell count). While not intending to be bound by any theory, it
is believed that when under metabolic distress in the presence of a
minimal carbon media, cell ATP levels will decrease/plateau. These
"hungry" cells will be primed for a prebiotic food source and begin
metabolizing ATP in its presence, which may or may not lead to an
increase in cell count. As such, it can be desirable to follow an
ATP assay with a low thru put assay, such as plate count, in a
tiered screening methodology to assess cell count/growth in the
presence of a compound or material having been identified as having
prebiotic potential in an ATP assay. The plate count assay, while
slower and more resource intensive, provides a confirmatory
assessment of the robustness of the prebiotic potential of a test
compound.
[0068] In addition to their suitability for assessing prebiotic
potential quickly for a variety of skin commensal microorganisms,
ATP assays also have a good detection threshold for use in a
prebiotic screening method utilizing skin commensal microorganisms.
FIG. 11 illustrates a comparison between an ATP assay and a variety
of conventional assays for C. jeikeium, S. epidermidis and P.
acnes. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the ATP assay provides a fast
detection time of 15 minutes and a detection limit that is second
only to the much slower plate count assay. Thus, the ATP assay
provides a fast detection time and suitable sensitivity for use as
a high thru-put screening assay.
[0069] In use, the amount of ATP or other metabolite in a test
sample may be measured to obtain a test value that is indicative of
the metabolite level. The test value may be compared to a
corresponding control value to determine if there was any change in
the metabolism of the microorganism. If the test value is greater
than the corresponding control value, then the test agent is
identified as a prebiotic or as having prebiotic potential. The
control value may be obtained by measuring the amount of ATP in a
control culture (e.g., formed by suspending the selected
microorganism(s) in a minimal carbon medium), or the control value
may be a previously calculated or measured value. In certain
embodiments, the control value may be obtained by measuring the ATP
level in the work culture or the test sample at a time point of 0
minutes (i.e., within 30 minutes of re-suspending the
microorganisms in the work culture and/or immediately after
providing the test sample in the test vessel). The ATP and/or other
metabolite level in the test sample and/or control may be measured
according to any suitable method known in the art. One particularly
suitable way to measure ATP level is with a BacTiter-GLO Microbial
Cell Viability Assay, available from Promega Corporation Madison,
Wis. The BacTiter-GLO Microbial Cell Viability Assay contains
reagents that may be used to drive the oxidation of luciferin under
catalysis by luciferase, resulting in the emission of light. The
amount of emitted light is measured with a luminometer to provide a
value that corresponds to the amount of ATP present.
[0070] Instead of an ATP assay, in some embodiments, it may be
desirable to measure the replication level of the selected
microorganism(s) (e.g., with a conventional plate count assay known
to those skilled in the art) to determine whether a test agent is a
prebiotic. A change in the replication level of the test sample may
be assessed by comparing the number and/or concentration of
microorganisms in the test sample to a control value. If the
comparison indicates that an increase in replication level has
occurred, then the test agent is identified as a prebiotic or as
having prebiotic potential. The number and/or concentration of
microorganisms in the test sample may be measured to obtain a test
value by measuring the optical density of the test sample, an
amount of DNA present in the test sample by PCR, performing a
limiting dilution analysis, performing an enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay, performing a direct microscopic count,
labeling the microorganism with a light-emitting or colored
compound and measuring the luminescence or color, and/or any other
suitable means known in the art. The control value may be obtained
by measuring the number and/or concentration of microorganisms in a
control culture (e.g., the selected microorganism(s) suspended in a
minimal carbon media), or the control value may be a previously
calculated or measured value. In certain embodiments, the control
value may be obtained by measuring the number and/or concentration
of microorganisms in the work culture or the test sample at a time
point of 0 minutes.
Assay to identify a Test Agent as a Broad Spectrum Prebiotic or as
a Selective Prebiotic
[0071] In some instances, it may be desirable to determine whether
a single test agent or combination of test agents can increase the
metabolism and/or replication of more than one species of
microorganism ("broad spectrum prebiotic"), and in particular two
or more skin commensal microorganisms. One reason for this may be
due to variability in the microbiome observed between individuals
and sites. In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to exploit
the excellent sensitivity of an MCM to screen for one or more test
agents that exhibit prebiotic activity on one or more particular
skin commensal microorganisms, but not on other skin commensal
microorganisms. It is recognized in the art that the presence of
certain microorganisms on certain portions of the body may be
undesirable. For example, it may be undesirable to promote the
growth of P. acnes on the skin of a person's face since P. acnes is
generally associated with the occurrence of acne. But it may be
desirable to promote the growth of S. epidermidis on the skin of a
person's face. Thus, in this example, it would be desirable to
identify test agents that exhibit prebiotic activity on S.
epidermidis but not P. acnes. Once such a selective prebiotic is
identified, it can be incorporated into a cosmetic composition,
especially a skin care composition, for use on the face to
potentially improve the health of facial skin.
[0072] When identifying a broad spectrum prebiotic or a selective
prebiotic, it may be necessary to prepare a work culture for each
microorganism to be tested. Each work culture will include at least
one microorganism that is not present in the other culture(s). For
example, the assay may include a first culture inoculated with C.
jeikeium, a second starter culture inoculated with S. epidermidis,
and a third starter culture inoculated with P. acnes. Additionally
or alternatively, the assay may include a first starter culture
inoculated with C. jeikeium and S. epidermidis and a second starter
culture inoculated with S. epidermidis and P. acnes. In yet another
example, the assay may include a first starter culture inoculated
with C. jeikeium and a second starter culture inoculated with S.
epidermidis and P. acnes. The work cultures may be formed as
described above. One or more test samples from the work culture are
placed in a suitable test vessel with at least one test agent. The
metabolism and/or replication of the microorganism(s) in each test
sample is measured to determine if the test agent exhibits
prebiotic activity on one or more of the test samples, as discussed
above. If the test agent exhibits prebiotic activity on more than
one microorganism (i.e., the metabolite and/or replication levels
measured in each of two test samples are both greater than a
control value) then the test agent is identified as a broad
spectrum prebiotic. If the test agent exhibits prebiotic activity
on at least one skin commensal microorganism and does not exhibit
prebiotic activity on at least one other skin commensal
microorganism, then the test agent is a selective prebiotic.
[0073] FIGS. 12-14 illustrate the ability of the present assay to
identify a test agent with selective prebiotic potential. In these
examples, the test agent is an emulsifying agent sold under the
trade name OLIVEM 450, available from the B&T Company, Italy.
The prebiotic potential, or lack thereof, of OLIVEM 450 with regard
to P. acnes, S. epidermidis and C. jeikeium is demonstrated by
measuring the ATP level of each microorganism relative to a water
control. As can be seen in FIG. 12, OLIVEM appears to have no or
very little prebiotic potential with regard to P. acnes. On the
other hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively, OLIVEM
450 appears to have at least some prebiotic potential for S.
epidermidis and substantial prebiotic potential for C. jeikeium,
when used in conjunction with an MCM. Thus, the present assay may
be exploited to identify test agents that have no, some, or
substantial prebiotic potential with regard to one or more
particular skin commensal microorganisms.
High-Throughput, Tiered Assay
[0074] The number of potential prebiotic agents is vast, and prior
to the discovery of the present high-throughput, tiered assay there
was no suitable method in the art for predicting which test agents
might exhibit in vivo prebiotic activity (i.e., prebiotic activity
when placed on the skin of a living person). As a result, each test
agent had to be tested in vivo to determine if it exhibited
suitable prebiotic activity. However, testing even a single agent
in vivo can be expensive and time consuming, and testing a large
number of agents in vivo is commercially impractical. Certain in
vitro methods for screening test agents, such as conventional plate
count methods may require less time and resources than in vivo
methods, but even the in vitro methods may be commercially
impractical for screening large libraries of test agents. For
example, a typical plate count assay may require hundreds of plates
and from 1 to 4 days to obtain an indication of in vitro prebiotic
activity. Measuring metabolite levels such as ATP level provides a
relatively fast (e.g., 15 minutes) way to screen large libraries of
test agents, but may result in undesirable false positives and/or
false negatives. A false positive or false negative is a false
indication that a suitable level of prebiotic activity is either
present or absent, respectively. Thus, using an ATP assay alone may
result in identifying test agents as prebiotics that do not exhibit
the desired level of activity in vivo.
[0075] It has been found that by using a tiered assay approach,
large libraries of test agents can be screened in a relatively
short amount of time and still provide a desirable level of
predictability as to whether a test agent will exhibit in vivo
prebiotic activity. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of
screening methods may be combined into a tiered screening
methodology using the teachings herein. In a tiered approach, a
large initial number of test agents can be selected and screened
relatively quickly, for example, with an ATP assay (or other
measurement of metabolic indicator level) to identify agents that
have prebiotic potential. Since an ATP assay utilizing an MCM is
intended to measure metabolic activity and may not necessarily be
correlative of cell count or other end points relevant to prebiotic
potential, it may be desirable to follow an initial ATP assay
screen with a secondary assay such as plate count. In addition, a
second screening assay is beneficial as it is possible that some
false positives and/or false negatives may be identified by the
first screening method. The test agents that exhibit prebiotic
potential in the first assay are then screened through the second
assay to refine which test agents are most likely to provide the
desired level of in vivo prebiotic activity. For example, an
initial library of 1000 test agents may be screened with an ATP
assay that identifies 10 agents as having prebiotic potential. In
this example, the 10 prebiotic agents may then be screened with a
plate count assay that identifies 2 particularly suitable prebiotic
agents that are most likely to provide the desired prebiotic
activity in vivo. Continuing with this example, the two
particularly suitable prebiotic agents may be tested in vivo to
confirm the predictive results of the high-throughput, tiered
assay. Thus, in this example, a library of 1000 test agents can be
greatly reduced to a much smaller number of candidates for in vivo
testing, which provides a more commercially practical approach from
the perspective of time and resource investment.
Cosmetic Compositions.
[0076] Because of the health and/or appearance benefit provided by
a healthy, balanced skin microbiome, it may be desirable to
incorporate prebiotic agents into a cosmetic composition. That is,
it may be desirable to include a prebiotic agent as an ingredient
in the cosmetic composition. In certain embodiments, the cosmetic
composition may include a dermatological acceptable carrier, a
prebiotic, and one or more optional ingredients of the kind
commonly included in the particular cosmetic compositing being
provided. For example, the cosmetic composition may include a skin
care active useful for regulating and/or improving the condition of
mammalian skin. Nonlimiting examples of such optional ingredients
include vitamins; peptides and peptide derivatives; and sugar
amines. Other optional ingredients include sunscreen actives (or
sunscreen agents) and/or ultraviolet light absorbers. In certain
embodiments, the cosmetic composition may include a colorant, a
surfactant, a film-forming composition, and/or a rheology modifier.
Suitable cosmetic compositions herein may be in any one of a
variety of forms known in the art, including, for example, an
emulsion, lotion, milk, liquid, solid, cream, gel, mouse, ointment,
paste, serum, stick, spray, tonic, aerosol, foam, pencil, and the
like. The cosmetic compositions may also be incorporated into shave
prep products, including, for example, gels, foams, lotions, and
creams, and include both aerosol and non-aerosol versions. Other
cosmetic compositions include antiperspirant, deodorant, and
personal cleaning compositions such as soap and shampoo.
[0077] Compositions incorporating prebiotic agents identified by
using the novel methods described herein may be generally prepared
according to conventional methods known in the art of making
compositions and topical compositions. Such methods typically
involve mixing of ingredients in or more steps to a relatively
uniform state, with or without heating, cooling, application of
vacuum, and the like. For example, emulsions may be prepared by
first mixing the aqueous phase materials separately from the fatty
phase materials and then combining the two phases as appropriate to
yield the desired continuous phase. In certain embodiments, the
compositions may be prepared to provide suitable stability
(physical stability, chemical stability, photostability, etc.)
and/or delivery of active materials. The composition may be
provided in a package sized to store a sufficient amount of the
composition for a treatment period. The size, shape, and design of
the package may vary widely. Some package examples are described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. D570,707; D391,162; D516,436; D535,191; D542,660;
D547,193; D547,661; D558,591; D563,221; and U.S. Publication Nos.
2009/0017080; 2007/0205226; and 2007/0040306.
EXAMPLES
[0078] The following are non-limiting examples of various aspects
of the methods described herein. The examples are given solely for
the purpose of illustration and are not to construed as limiting
the invention, as many variations thereof are possible.
Example 1
[0079] Example 1 demonstrates that media selection can be a
variable for determining whether a test agent exhibits prebiotic
activity. In this example, three different classes of media are
compared for their effect on C. jeikeium, S. epidermidis, and P.
acnes. The C. jeikeium, S. epidermidis, and P. acnes are obtained
from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Manassas, Va. as
Catalog Nos. 43734, 12228, and 11827, respectively. The first class
of media is represented by a conventional rich growth medium used
to grow each of the three microorganisms. The second class of media
is represented by Gastrointestinal Prebiotic Medium ("GIPM"), which
is a medium commonly used for testing with gastrointestinal
microorganisms. GIPM is made from peptone water, bile salts, NaCl,
NaHCO.sub.3, K.sub.2HPO.sub.4, Tween 80, KH.sub.2PO.sub.4, hemin,
MgSO.sub.4.7H2O, vitamin K1, CaCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2O, and cystein.HCl.
The third class of media is represented by an MCM suitable for use
with the novel methods disclosed herein. The MCM is made from NaCl,
(NH.sub.4).sub.2HPO.sub.4, K.sub.2HPO.sub.4, and MgSO.sub.4 and has
a pH of between 6.8 and 7.2.
[0080] The three different microorganisms are each grown in a
starter culture using sterile media, which may be sterilized using
conventional methods (e.g., autoclave). S. epidermidis is grown in
a starter culture of brain heart infusion media ("BHI"); C.
jeikeium is grown in a starter culture of BHI media supplemented
with 0.1% Tween 80 ("BHIT"); and P. acnes is grown in a starter
culture of reinforced clostridial broth ("RCB"). The BHI media is
made by adding 37 grams of a commercially available powder of
peptic digest of animal tissue, sodium chloride, dextrose,
pancreatic digest of gelatin, and disodium phosphate to 1 liter of
USP water. The RCB is made by adding 38 grams of a commercially
available powder of casein enzymatic hydrolysate, beef and yeast
extract, dextrose, sodium chloride, sodium acetate, starch, and
1-cysteine hydrochloride to 1 liter of USP water. Glycerol stock
inoculums of each of the three kinds of bacteria are prepared by
mixing 0.75 ml of a log culture with 0.25 ml of 80% glycerol and
storing at -80.degree. C. until use. On day 1, the starter culture
of BHIT is made by inoculating the BHIT media in a 50:1 ratio with
C. jeikeium in a suitable vessel (i.e., 1 ml glycerol stock
inoculum to 50 ml BHIT media). Also on day 1, the starter culture
of RCB is made by inoculating the RCB media in a 50:1 ratio with P.
acnes in a suitable vessel (i.e., 1 ml glycerol stock inoculum to
50 ml RCB media). The starter culture containing C. jeikeium is
incubated aerobically at 37.degree. C. for 46 to 48 hours. The
starter culture containing P. acnes is incubated anaerobically at
37.degree. C. for 46 to 48 hours. On day 2, the starter culture of
BHI is made by inoculating the BHI media in a 50:1 ratio with S.
epidermidis in a suitable vessel (i.e., 1 ml glycerol stock
inoculum to 50 ml BHI media) followed by aerobic incubation at
37.degree. C. for 22 to 26 hours.
[0081] On day 3, the three starter cultures are harvested by
room-temperature centrifugation at a speed sufficient to pelletize
the bacteria but maintain viability (e.g., 8500 rpm in a Sorvall
Evolution RC centrifuge). The bacterial pellets from the starter
cultures are washed in a 0.90% w/v saline solution ("normal
saline"), re-pelleted as per harvest, and then re-suspended in
enough normal saline to provide a work culture with a bacterial
concentration of between 0.5.times.10.sup.7 CFU/ml to
5.times.10.sup.8 CFU/ml. The test materials are distributed in a
suitable reaction vessel (i.e., any vessel that can be sampled
from, such as a flask or a 96-well plate) to provide test samples.
In this Example, the test samples are made by adding 1 part test
material to 8 parts test media to 1 part work culture. For example,
the test samples may be made by combining 0.1 ml of test material,
0.8 ml of test media, and 0.1 ml of work culture to each well of a
96-well, deep-well plate. The test materials in this example are
10.times. test agent stock solutions containing either beet pulp in
water or OLIVEM 450 in water. A water control sample may be
prepared by replacing the test agent in the test sample with water.
For example, a water control sample may be made by adding 1 part
water to 8 parts test media to 1 part work culture. The time at
which the test materials are added to the reaction vessel is T=0,
which in this Example is when the test materials are placed in a
well of the 96-well, deep-well plate to form a test sample. The
test media for C. jeikeium is MCM, BHIT, PBS and GIPM. The test
media for S. epidermidis is MCM, BHI, PBS and GIPM. The test media
for P. acnes is MCM, RCB, PBS and GIPM. All transfers of media or
other ingredients may be performed, for example, by using an
Eppendorf Research Series Adjustable Volume Pipetter, volume 100
.mu.l to 1000 .mu.l or volume 2 .mu.l to 20 .mu.l, available from
Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, Pa. Each test condition is performed
in triplicate. Prior to sampling a well for a measurement, the
contents of each well are mixed by pipetting up and down in the
well, which is a conventional mixing technique known in the art. To
measure the ATP in each well, a portion of the test sample is
removed from each well of the reaction vessel using a suitable
transfer apparatus and placed in a 96-well, black well plate (e.g.
100 microliters). Optionally, enough glucose may be added to the
wells containing S. epidermidis to reach a final concentration of
1% v/v and waiting at least 5 minutes at room temperature. It is
believed, without being limited by theory, that S. epidermidis
tends to use up its ATP faster than the other two microorganisms
when stressed (i.e., starved). Thus, adding glucose may "prime" the
S. epidermidis and provide a baseline ATP level that is
commensurate with a corresponding plate count value. However, it
may be desirable to refrain from adding glucose to the wells
containing the S. epidermidis in order to potentially increase the
dynamic range for measurable prebiotic activity. After placing the
test sample portion in the black-well plate, the ATP level of the
test sample is determined by adding an equal volume of ATP reagent
(e.g., BacTiter Glo, from Promega Corporation) to each well. For
example, a 100 ul test sample portion would get 100 ul of ATP
reagent according to the manufacturer instructions. The plates are
then incubated at room temperature for fifteen minutes with shaking
at 750 rpm. The luminescence of the cultures should be measured
using a suitable luminescent plate reader (for example, Victor X
Multi Label Plate Reader, Wallac/PerkinElmer, Waltham, Mass.) and
the corresponding luminescence recorded as an ATP response. The ATP
level of the test samples is determined at T=0, T=24 hours and T=48
hours. The ATP level measured at T=0 is determined as soon as
possible after making the test samples, and in no event longer than
30 minutes. For plate count assessments, 10 .mu.l from each
triplicate reaction vessel is removed at T=0, for a total of 30 ul,
and placed in 970 ul of normal saline, serially diluted as needed
to allow a countable range of 20-300 colonies per plate, and then
plated on duplicate Brucella blood agar plates by adding 50 ul of
appropriate dilutions on each plate. The resultant plates are
incubated at 33-37.degree. C. in the presence of oxygen or
35-37.degree. C. anaerobically (depending on whether the
microorganism prefers aerobic or anaerobic conditions) and analyzed
48 to 72 hours later using conventional colony counting techniques
known in the art to determine the number of CFUs.
[0082] FIGS. 5-10 demonstrate the ability to measure a fold change
in ATP or colony counts in the test samples of Example 1 compared
to a corresponding water control sample. The ATP level or colony
counts of each sample at T=48 hours is compared to the
corresponding value at T=0 to determine the change from baseline
value. The change from baseline value of the test sample is then
compared to the change from baseline value of the corresponding
water control sample to get a treatment effect fold change. Fold
change refers to the number of times there is a 100% increase (or
decrease). Thus, a two-fold change is a 200% change, a three-fold
change is a 300% change, etc.
[0083] FIG. 5 illustrates the effect of MCM, PBS, BHI and GIPM on
the ability to measure a fold change in the ATP level of S.
epidermidis upon contact with beet pulp relative to a water
control. The test samples contain beet pulp as the test material,
S. epidermidis, and the test media indicated in FIG. 5. The beet
pulp was replaced by distilled water to make the water control
samples. The change from baseline ATP value was determined by
comparing the change in ATP level at T=0 and T=48 for the test
sample and the control. The change from baseline ATP value of the
test sample was compared to the change in baseline ATP value for
the control to determine the fold change. As illustrated in FIG. 5,
the MCM and PBS test media provide significantly higher sensitivity
than the BHI and GIPM test media as demonstrated by the
significantly higher fold change in measured ATP level. FIG. 6
illustrates the effect of MCM, PBS, BHI and GIPM on the ability to
measure a fold change in the number of S. epidermidis, when
measured by a standard plate count, upon contact with beet pulp,
relative to a water control. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the plate
count measurement confirms that the ATP results shown in FIG. 5 may
be used to suitably predict the prebiotic activity of a test
agent.
[0084] FIG. 7 illustrates the effect of MCM, PBS, BHIT and GIPM on
the ability to measure a fold change in the ATP level of C.
jeikeium upon contact with beet pulp relative to a water control.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the MCM and PBS test media provide
significantly higher sensitivity than the BHIT and GIPM test media
as demonstrated by the significantly higher fold change in measured
ATP level. FIG. 8 illustrates the effect of MCM, PBS, BHIT and GIPM
on the ability to measure a fold change in the number of C.
jeikeium, when measured by a standard plate count, upon contact
with beet pulp, relative to a water control. As illustrated in FIG.
8, the plate count measurement confirms that the ATP results shown
in FIG. 3 may be used to suitably predict the prebiotic activity of
a test agent. The fold changes illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 were
determined in the same way as the fold changes illustrated in FIGS.
5 and 6.
[0085] FIG. 9 illustrates the effect of MCM, PBS, RCB and GIPM on
the ability to measure a fold change in the ATP level of P. acnes
upon contact with beet pulp relative to a water control. As
illustrated in FIG. 9, the MCM and PBS test media provide
significantly higher sensitivity than the RCB and GIPM test media
as demonstrated by the significantly higher fold change in measured
ATP level. FIG. 10 illustrates the effect of MCM, PBS, RCB and GIPM
on the ability to measure a fold change in the number of P. acnes,
when measured by a standard plate count, upon contact with beet
pulp, relative to a water control. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the
plate count measurement confirms that the ATP results shown in FIG.
7 may be used to suitably predict the prebiotic activity of a test
agent. The fold changes illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 were
determined in the same way as the fold changes illustrated in FIGS.
5 and 6.
[0086] From FIGS. 5-10, it is to be appreciated that the present
minimal carbon media provide a greater dynamic range of measurable
prebiotic potential of the test agent and in some cases is the only
medium where the prebiotic potential of a test agent can be
observed. These results demonstrate the unexpected benefit of
minimal carbon media providing improved sensitivity when screening
test agents for prebiotic activity on human skin commensal
microorganisms.
Example 2
[0087] Example 2 compares the results of an ATP assay to a plate
count assay. The plate count assay is a generally accepted assay
known in the art for measuring growth or survival of cultivable
bacteria in a culture. While plate counts can be a useful tool to
identify prebiotic materials, it is considered a low-throughput,
resource intensive method for prebiotic assessment and predicting
whether a test agent will exhibit in vivo prebiotic activity on
human skin commensal microorganisms. In contrast, using the ATP
assay as a pre-screening tool provides increased through-put and
substantially less resources when screening test agents for
prebiotic activity. Furthermore, ATP results are generally
predictive of plate count results, and thus it is believed that the
results of the ATP assay are reliable enough to provide an initial
screening method for quickly identifying prebiotic candidates for
further testing.
[0088] Example 2 utilizes starter cultures of C. jeikeium, S.
epidermidis, and P. acnes prepared and harvested as described in
Example 1 above. The harvested starter cultures were used to make
work cultures, which were transferred to reaction vessels, also as
described in Example 1 above. An MCM was prepared as described in
Example 1, and 8 parts of the MCM was added to each well. 10.times.
test agent stock solutions were prepared by mixing appropriate
weights or volumes of stock materials with USP grade water to make
a stock solution (10.times.). These stock solutions were passed
through a 0.2 micron filter to remove contaminating bacteria. One
part test agent stock solution was then added to 8 parts MCM to
provide a test sample. Water (USP) was used as a control.
Twenty-five test agents were screened. The test agents were
BIOAGAVE brand inulin, available from GTC Nutrition; Bac-Lyte brand
banana extract available from Mark Lyte; Purimune brand
galacto-oligosaccharide ("GOS") available from GTC Nutrition; rice
bran available from Kirin, Japan; short-chain oligofructose
(Oligofructose P95); Nutriose FB06 brand wheat dextrin, available
from Roquette; Canadian Harvest Oat Fiber 610, available from
SunOpta; beet pulp; gentio-oligosaccharide, available from Wako
Pure Chemicals; Isomalto 500 brand isomalto-oligosaccharide,
available from Showa Sango, Vivinal GOS 15 brand
galacto-oligosaccharide; Promilin Fengreek extract
(hydroxyisoleucine), available from TSI Health Sciences; Zyactinase
45 brand kiwi extract, available from Vital Foods; Solactis brand
galactofructose, available from Solvay; BIMUNO brand
galacto-oligosaccharide, available from Clasado; konjac glucomannan
hydrolysates, available from Glycologic Limited, UK; Nutraflora
brand Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scfox P95), available
from GTC Nutrition; C IsoMaltidex.TM. brand polyol sugar alcohol,
available from Cargill; raffinose pentahydrate; Biomyox brand
nasturtium officinale extract, available from SILAB, France;
Perenityl PG brand hexyldecanol/pear seed extract, Vincience,
France; Dermochlorella D brand Chlorella vulgaris extract,
available from Barnet Products; Promatrixyl brand palmitoyl
pentapeptide-3, available from Sederma, France; eutanol G16 brand
2-hexyldecanol; and Phlorogine BG brand Laminaria saccharina
extract, available from Biotechmarine, France. Another test agent,
which was not tested by which may be suitable for use herein is
Pitera (a yeast ferment filtrate of sake). Each test condition was
performed in triplicate for ATP and duplicate for plate counts. The
contents of each well were mixed and sampled for each appropriate
assay. For example, for ATP, 100 microliters of each sample was
placed in wells of a shallow, black well plate. Enough glucose was
also added to the wells containing S. epidermidis to reach a final
concentration of 1% (v/v) and incubated at room temperature for at
least 5 minutes. An equal volume of BacTiter-GLO reagent (Promega
Corporation, Madison, Wis.) was added to each well of the black
well plate. The plates were then incubated at room temperature for
fifteen minutes with shaking at 750 rpm. The luminescence of the
cultures was subsequently measured using a Victor X Multi-Label
Plate Reader (available from PerkinElmer, Waltham, Mass.).
Additionally, samples of each reaction vessel were removed and
diluted serially in normal saline as appropriate to reach a
countable range of bacteria on each plate (e.g. 1:10 to 1:10,000)
and then plated on duplicate appropriate agar plates for bacteria
tested (e.g., TSA, TSA-0.1% Tween, RCA). All plates were incubated
at 37.degree. C. in the presence of oxygen or anaerobically at
37.degree. C. as appropriate and analyzed 48 to 72 hours later.
[0089] Of the 25 test agents examined, 22 test agents increased the
levels of ATP in S. epidermidis cultures, 21 test agents increased
the levels of ATP in C. jeikeium cultures, and 22 test agents
increased the levels of ATP in P. acnes cultures, as compared to
the water only controls. Of the 25 test agents, 23 test agents
increased the number of CFUs present in S. epidermidis cultures, 11
test agents increased the number of CFUs present in C. jeikeium
cultures, and 24 test agents increased the number of CFUs present
in P. acnes cultures, as compared to the water only controls. The
plate count and ATP assays agreed on 20 test agents used with S.
epidermidis, 15 test agents used with C. jeikium, and 22 test
agents used with P. acnes. However, the ATP assay was found to
produce several false negatives. In particular, 2 test agents used
with S. epdermidis and 3 test agents used with P. acnes were found
to not influence the ATP levels, but did influence the replication
of the bacteria as assessed by plate counts. The ATP assay was also
found to produce several false positives. In particular, 2 test
agents used with S. epidermidis, 10 test agents used with C.
jeikeium, and 1 test agent used with P. acnes were found to
increase the levels of ATP in these cultures, but did not appear to
affect the replication of the bacteria as assessed by plate counts.
It is important to note that false positives, while not desirable,
are not as undesirable as false negatives. This is because false
positives are tested again via plate count, which typically
provides the proper characterization of the test agent.
Additionally, the false positives provide an indication that the
ATP assay may be decoupled from the plate count assay. That is, the
ATP assay may be used as an independent and/or early indicator of
prebiotic activity, as opposed to the conventional usage of the ATP
assay, which is to simply correlate ATP to the number of
microorganisms present in the sample.
[0090] Table 1 illustrates the results of using an ATP assay to
screen the twenty-five test agents of Example 2 for prebiotic
activity. As can be seen in Table 1, the ATP assay provides a
suitable indication of prebiotic activity with regard to S.
epidermidis, C. jeikeium and P. acnes, which demonstrates that the
ATP assay, when used in tandem with a plate count assay, may
provide a reliable screening method for identifying test agents
that are likely to exhibit in vivo prebiotic activity.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 S. epidermidis C. jeikeium P. acnes Number
of test 22 21 22 agents that induced an increase in the levels of
ATP Number of test 23 11 24 agents that induced an increase in the
number of colony forming units Number of test 20 15 22 agents where
there was an agreement between the ATP and plate count methods
Number of false 2 0 3 negatives displayed by the ATP assay Number
of false 2 10 1 positives displayed by the ATP assay
[0091] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm"
[0092] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced
or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
[0093] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *